SBI Detains Odesa Law Enforcement Official for Smuggling Military Age Men to Moldova

Employees of the State Bureau of Investigation, together with border guards, detained an official of a law enforcement agency in Odesa region on suspicion of setting up a scheme to smuggle men liable for military service across the state border to the Republic of Moldova.

According to the SBI press service, the head of the inspectors' department organized a channel for illegal border crossing outside checkpoints in the area for which he was responsible.

To do this, he engaged a subordinate who used messengers to look for people who wanted to leave the country. The official coordinated their actions remotely, providing instructions on the place and time of border crossing. The cost of the service ranged from 6 to 10 thousand US dollars.

According to intelligence, up to five people were smuggled in a week using this scheme. To avoid detection, the offender even tried to bribe another law enforcement officer. The SBI detained the border guard while receiving payment from another client. The full range of persons involved in the criminal activity is currently being identified.

The detainee was served a notice of suspicion under Part 3 of Article 369 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (offering, promising or giving an unlawful benefit to an official). The issue of choosing a measure of restraint and removing him from office is being decided.

If his guilt is confirmed, the detainee faces up to eight years in prison with confiscation of property.

Earlier, an indictment was sent to court against the former head of the water police sector of one of Odesa's district police departments. He is accused of setting up an illegal scheme to smuggle men of military age abroad (Part 3 of Article 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

Prior to that, prosecutors sent to court an indictment against the organizer and four members of the organized group on the fact of illegal transportation of persons across the state border of Ukraine committed by an organized group for mercenary motives.

Кирило Бойко